New Honda Civic Type R to race in BTCC

The new Honda Civic Type R will compete in this year’s Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, it has been confirmed.

The unbranded race cars took to the track at a test session at Brands Hatch today, driven by Matt Neal and Gordon Shedden. The fully liveried cars will be unveiled on 24 March.

The race cars, prepared by the championship-winning Team Dynamics squad, produce 350bhp and 295lb ft from their 2.0-litre turbocharged engines.

Honda claims the Type R BTCC race car has more downforce compared to last year's Honda Civic Tourer, less drag and more effective aerodynamics.

"This is a car that not just us, but the entire automotive industry has been waiting for," said Neal. "We are as excited as anybody to start running the Civic Type R, which is a massive step forward from last year's Tourer - from the engine to the handling and aerodynamics."